Tag Archives: Writing

Authors Would You Like to Reach 175,000 Readers?

My publisher, Goylake Publishing, has teamed-up with the Fussy Librarian and in partnership we are offering you 20% off your first book promotion with the Fussy Librarian. To qualify for this promotion, your book must be either permafree or listed free during a special offer.

In our experience, the Fussy Librarian is the best book promoter in the business. When we promote with him, our free books always reach the top five of Amazon’s genre charts, most often they reach the top three. We promote with the Fussy Librarian every month and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

Prices start from as low as $15, minus our special discount of 20%. Click here:

Along with fellow authors Ronesa Aveela and Denise McCabe, I’m delighted to be a founder of Mom’s Favorite Reads. Mom’s Favorite Reads is an international community of readers, writers, teachers, librarians and book lovers established to encourage reading amongst adults and children. We believe that reading offers great joy to people. Furthermore, it is a cornerstone of education and education is a cornerstone of a civilised society.

There are many strands to Mom’s Favorite Reads, including our monthly magazines. Inside our magazines you will discover

• Parenting Tips
• Short Stories
• Recipes
• Activities for Children
• Exploring New Worlds
• Wellness and Well-being
• New Authors
• And so much more

If you are a reader, you can read our October edition here

If you are a writer, you are welcome to join our community via our Facebook group. Mom’s Favorite Reads promotes the authors within our group and in December we will publish the first of our quarterly book catalogues, an impressive publication showcasing over 300 books. Furthermore, you can submit articles and reach new readers through our magazines, which are distributed through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Issuu, Kobo and Smashwords and to our subscribers.

If you would like to join us, details of our Facebook group can be found here

The first draft of Saving Grace is complete. I have a month of editing ahead. Then the book will be printed and made available for pre-order on Amazon. This is a very exciting project and I am looking forward to publishing the book.

Florrie the maid plays a key role in my forthcoming novel, Saving Grace. Here is an example of her working environment, a Victorian manor house kitchen.

I have now become a business with an accountant, tax forms, etc. This reminds me of a joke Detective Inspector Sweets MacArthur told Sam in Love and Bullets. “A company director is interviewing candidates for an important position and decides to select the individual who can answer the question, how much is two plus two? The first candidate is an engineer. He pulls out a slide-rule and shows that the answer is four. The second candidate is a lawyer. He states that in the case of Jubliman versus Jubliman two plus two was proven to be four. The final candidate is an accountant. When asked what two plus two equals the accountant slips out of his chair, looks under the desk, scans the room for hidden microphones and makes sure that no one is listening at the door. Then he whispers, “Did you have a particular number in mind?'”

A wonderful weekend for Betrayal, book one in the Ann’s War Mystery Series. The novella reached #1 in Australia, #2 in Britain and #5 in America and Canada, on the historical mysteries charts. In addition, Betrayal is our ninth audio book production and it’s now available from iBooks, Amazon and Audible.

Ann’s parents, in my Ann’s War Mystery Series, run a general store, like this one.

Three of my books are in the top 100 in Germany, A Parcel of Rogues, Mind Games and Digging in the Dirt. Also, I am delighted to be featured in this article by Riffle Select

My books are mysteries, but all are centred on emotional issues, the sort of issues we face as individuals or through family and friends. Therefore, I am delighted to announce my partnership with BetterHelp

In case you missed it, here is my latest mini mystery for the Seaside News.

And finally this month, bestselling novelist Ken Follett presents an excellent series of videos on how to write suspense, based on a history of the genre.

Like this:

Welcome to Hannah Interviews the third in an occasional series where I interview authors I admire. The questions in each interview are based on the Proust Questionnaire and I hope they will offer an insight into each author and their books. For this interview I am delighted to welcome Paulette Mahurin. Paulette is an Amazon #1 author who donates her royalties to rescue dogs. Over to Paulette and I hope you enjoy the interview.

What are your favourite qualities in a man?

Honesty, sense of humor, good health habits, good communicator and listener.

What are your favourite qualities in a woman?

Same as in a man.

What do you appreciate the most in your friends?

Balance in give and take. Ability to communicate constructively, effectively, and honestly.

What is your main fault?

I take things too personally. Oversensitive.

What is your favourite pastime?

Being with family and my dogs, quality time with friends, reading, writing, doing my professional job as a Nurse Practitioner, and volunteer work.

What is your idea of happiness?

Being okay with whatever is happening. Accepting the hand I’m dealt. I may not be able to change it but can I change my attitude about it and find something to be grateful about.

If not yourself, who would you be?

I’m okay with who I am and don’t dwell on being someone else. Like Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.”

What is your favourite colour and flower?

Green and I love most flowers, especially natural and wild in nature.

Who are your favourite painters and musicians?

Too many to pick favorites. So many different categories, time periods in history, and ways of expressing. I appreciate talent in any field. And there has never been a lack of talent.

Who are your favourite prose authors and poets?

Again, too many to enumerate on one, two, or a few. There is a lot of great talent out there from the well-known to the independents struggling to be read.

Who are your favourite heroes in fiction?

The ones that are real, and balanced, and don’t necessarily overcome all the great odds but certainly give it their best. One I can relate to, one that I can read and feel he is organic and authentic.

Who are your favourite heroines in fiction?

Again same as in heroes. And I might add for both not a stereotypical cast character, one that has flaws and emulates the human condition realistically.

Thank you, Paulette. You can learn more about Paulette’s award-winning books and charity work by visiting her Amazon page.

This week I’ve been following Sam around the Vale of Glamorgan, a picturesque region of Wales. Chapters five to ten of Mind Games are largely set in the Vale, including two chapters set at Nash Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse was constructed in 1831, illuminated in 1832 and electrified in 1968. It holds the distinction of being the last manned lighthouse in Wales, before automation in 1998. I’m pleased to say that the writing is going well and that the book is on schedule for publication in June.

I came across this quote from Marcia Muller recently and I can identify with it in relation to Sam.

‘A professional writer’s life is not easy, no matter how high you climb on the best seller lists. For one thing, you work for yourself, and that self is the most demanding boss you’ve ever had. I don’t know about non fiction writers, but those of us who deal in fiction are never left alone by our characters. They haunt you, they tell you what to do. There are times when I feel my detective, Sharon McCone, is sitting on my shoulder, saying, “No, not that. Do this.” Usually she’s right. But I’m waiting for the day I’ll prove her wrong.’

As you know, my books are based on serious subjects, but I like to insert some humour occasionally. Here are two pieces I posted on social media this week. Both received a terrific response 😃

Definitions from the dubious dictionary…Shinbone, a device for locating furniture in the dark.

How many authors does it take to change a lightbulb?

Ten.

One to change the lightbulb.

Five to say that they’d already thought of the idea for changing the lightbulb, but they didn’t want to go public with it yet.

Four to say that lightbulb changing is old hat and already covered by the literary greats.

Three to complain that with blogging, Twitter, Facebook, etc they have no time to change lightbulbs, but they’ll do it anyway.

Two to insist that old technology is best and that the lightbulb will never replace the candle.

And one to figure out that while authors are great with words they are lousy at mathamatics.

I have joined Author Reach. More news of that in the future, but for now here is the link and an invitation to follow and join my mailing list.

We published Stardust this week, book ten in the Sam Smith Mystery Series, and I’m delighted to say that the book smashed my pre-order record and was included in the Amazon America and Amazon France top fifty hot new releases. Also, this weekend, Smoke and Mirrors, a number three book in France, broke into the Amazon.com top one hundred. Meanwhile, Sam’s Song continues to hold a place in the Amazon top twenty.

This week, I made a start on Mind Games, book eleven in the series. Mind Games is a love story, ‘of sorts’. If you read the book you will see what I mean. Mind Games centres on Sasha, a young chess player. The book also develops Faye’s story.

I’m delighted to say that Suzan Lynn Lorraine has agreed to narrate Secrets and Lies, her sixth Sam Smith narration. Suzan is a very talented narrator who brings her acting and radio experience to the characters and it’s always a thrill to work with her. We hope to have Secrets and Lies ready for an early summer release.

Along with a number of experts, we are looking into the prospect of producing a Sam Smith Mystery card game, along with other associated Sam projects. Discussions are at an early stage, but if we can make it happen it would be fun to do. Watch this space.

When you write from life, as I do, you hope to capture a moment of authenticity, to present a situation that people will recognize as true. That’s why I was delighted to receive this five-star review on Amazon: “Super Sleuth. Her (Sam’s) dealings with an abusive ex husband were spot on. Can’t wait to read more.” If you have read a Sam Smith book and enjoyed it, please consider leaving a short, one line, review. It would make a big difference to potential readers, and make my day.

As ever, thank you for your interest and support. More news next week. Meanwhile, remember this 😃